Urban make-over
Breann Schossow
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: News
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The Redevelopment Authority will make its recommendation to the City Council in the next few months concerning the plans for the building at 2 South Barstow, said Thomas Kemp, City Council representative to the RA.
The RA is a panel of citizens, members of City Council as well as the City Manager and City Attorney.
Before the RA makes its decision, Kemp added, they will hear presentations about four proposals for the building.
Overall, the proposals include potential for commercial/retail space, condos/loft apartments and office space.
A fifth proposal for non-profit use was not completely dismissed, just severely discounted in comparison to the others, Kemp said.
40 percent of property in Eau Claire is non-profit, Kemp said, and brings in no tax base, which the city needs and uses for police/fire response, street repairs and other necessities.
The people who will use the building, he added, will be in need of those necessities and tax base and the non-profit proposal as a last resort.
2 South Barstow has been vacant for over 10 years said Mike Schatz, Economic Development Director for the city of Eau Claire.
The building is in demand, Schatz said, for several reasons. The architectural style, common vernacular, seems to be in demand and the building's location on the river and in the downtown area has a fantastic view.
He added, the inside of the building is in need of extreme remodeling. There are no utilities; an elevator is needed as well as new paint and a secondary fire escape. Also, parts of the roof need to be replaced.
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Trav
posted 10/23/08 @ 9:56 AM CST
It is interesting that this is one of few old buildings in downtown Eau Claire that has the floor space to accommodate a decent size size retail business or chain store yet it remains empty. (Continued…)
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